Mr. T Los Angeles

"On one occasion at Mr. T, we recall watching servers walking around the dining room setting food on fire while Jay-Z played in the background. This was not a coincidence. The iconic rapper is a partner at this slick French-ish spot—a Hollywood offshoot of a cool Paris bistro—that's best known for its comte and mimolette cheese flambé, which shows up in a few signature dishes. The menu melds street food with traditional French cooking, and you can watch the action in the open kitchen from seats at the counter. Bring a date to snack on minty-sweet larb steak tartare or invite friends to crowd around a patio table for halibut over ratatouille, truffle mac and cheese, and blue prawn lumpia." - sylvio martins, brant cox, garrett snyder

"Cool kid hangout Mr. T comes from Guillaume Guedj, who brought his Paris restaurant to the heart of Hollywood. It occupies a high-ceiling industrial space with modern furniture where Republique alum Alisa Vannah serves international LA flavors interpreted as sleek French-inflected dishes. The restaurant often plays loud hip-hop tunes that bounce along the space’s hard surfaces, while well-dressed diners take in branzio with beurre blanc, Thai vinaigrette-topped steak tartare, and beef bourguignon prepared in the style of Korean galbi-jjim. Head to Mr. T during the daytime to try one of LA’s best burgers topped with cheese foam and pastries from renowned French baker François Daubinet." - Rebecca Roland, Matthew Kang

"Hollywood French restaurant Mr. T has tapped famed baker Francois Daubinet for its daytime menu, including a lineup of impressive pastries that would feel at home in a Parisian patisserie. Among the offerings is a selection of croissants, including the classic butter, pain au chocolat, and a not-too-sweet almond croissant. Make sure to grab an espresso to cut through the butter." - Rebecca Roland

"Hollywood French restaurant Mr. T has launched a completely new daytime cafe menu that extends to weekend brunch under the direction of chef Alisa Vannah and pastry chef Francois Daubinet. The expansive space, with plenty of airy outdoor seating, offers a relaxing place to take in smoked salmon tartines over cream cheese chantilly or an impressive burger topped with a seared comte and Mimolette foam. Pastries by Daubinet, one of the world’s most accomplished pastry chefs who once oversaw the Faunchon empire, are among the best in Los Angeles, including gorgeous croissants, pain au chocolate, and almost croissants." - Eater Staff

"Mr. T Cafe is so Hollywood, even though it’s imported from France. This daytime concept lives inside Mr. T, the glitzy Parisian bistro co-owned by Jay-Z. The croissants and gold-dusted hazelnut tarts are courtesy of a jet-setting pastry chef who collabs with luxury fashion brands. The person taking your order behind the counter will dust off their high school French as they repeat your order. It’s all a bit on the nose, but brunch on Mr. T’s shaded patio feels chic, not gaudy. It also helps that the food and pastries are quite good. The all-day menu here might seem as French as french toast, but Mr. T does American staples like chia bowls and breakfast burritos as well as any brunch spot in Hollywood. The salmon tartine comes with a tangy chantilly cream cheese that makes Philadelphia look boring, and the tightly spiraled croissants have three distinct textures: crackly on top, crispy at the edges, and light as a giant cumulus cloud on the inside. Add one to your order next time you pop into this daytime counter for a morning coffee run, lunch, or a steak frites and mimosas brunch. Food Rundown photo credit: Sylvio Martins Croissant We call these supermodel croissants because they’re stunning and photogenic, yet delicious enough to be the mascot for a fancy French butter brand. Their airy insides have a subtle savoriness, and the spiraled outer shell shatters on first bite. photo credit: Sylvio Martins Breakfast Croissant A handy tip: When Mr. T’s pastry case is empty, order this sandwich to get one of their beautiful croissants. The laminated pastry is sturdy enough to hold in the velvety scrambled eggs and avocado, and there’s a tangy aioli that ties everything together. photo credit: Sylvio Martins Steak Frites Before you pour the accompanying peppercorn sauce all over this tender steak, hold up. The thick glaze-like sauce is so tongue-sizzling that it overwhelms a very respectable piece of meat. The crispy frites are solid, though. Salmon Tartine There's a lot going on with this salmon toast, and it all works. The lox is bright and tangy against the chantilly cream cheese, and the tiny piles of roe add a burst of salt without overdoing the fishiness. If you prefer your breakfast toast even richer, add the optional marinated jammy egg packed with umami." - Sylvio Martins